Serie A: Three Poor Transfer Moves from Italy this Summer

Vlad Chiriches joined Napoli for an undisclosed fee earlier this summer. The 25-year-old Romanian moved to Tottenham from home club Steaua Bucharest in August 2013 – but struggled to cement a first-team spot for the Premier League side. So why do Napoli believe he has what it takes to play in Serie A?

This move has failure written all over it with newly appointed Napoli manager, Maurizio Sarri, admitting that he did not know much about the centre back.

“I only saw him play once six months ago and I know very little about him. But if he’s been signed, it must mean he’s got quality. I’ll make up my own mind about him in the weeks to come. It’s not a habit of mine to make specific transfer demands to my club. All I do is suggest the characteristics I need in a player.”

The Romanian had a stinking season last campaign, making only 10 appearances for Tottenham Hotspur. He simply lacked the depth of quality needed for a team with Champions League aspirations, in which Napoli also share.

Some pundits have said that the pace and intensity of the Premier League did not suit Chiriches and Serie A would suit him better.

I believe being a defender in Italy can be more difficult than in England. A defender in Serie A must be intelligent with teams in Italy focusing more on tactics, movement and organisation. The media in Italy would scrutinise defensive errors, more than the Premier League.

If Chiriches’ move to Napoli didn’t materialise, the likelihood is that we would have seen him in Italy anyway because Fiorentina and Roma expressed a strong interest. Very bizarre.Antonio Cassano (Sampdoria)

They say never go back, but this is exactly what Antonio Cassano has done.

The veteran Italian forward has signed a two-year contract with the club on a free transfer and will be hoping to help them to a successful campaign both domestically and in Europe. Cassano, now 33, spent four seasons with ‘il Doria’ between 2007 and 2011, scoring an impressive 35 league goals for the club in one of his more successful spells.

I think this is a great move for Cassano, a secure two year contract at his age with a relatively stable Serie A club is fantastic. I don’t think it’s a great move for the club.

Sampdoria should to be looking to build on a relatively successful previous campaign. Not looking at former players. The side finish in 7th – securing Europa League football.

This move would be bad if Antonio were to take the starting spot, therefore denying the chance for a young, hungry Italian player to showcase his skills.

Antonio’s value would come off the field, passing on his experience to the younger players around the club.

Sadly, I think this another example of a Serie A club not giving the opportunity to the youth.

A bad move away of Serie A – Samuel Eto’o

Samuel Eto’o left Sampdoria for Turkish outfit Antalyaspor this summer, after just 5 months with the Italian side.

Eto’o was once the most feared striker in European football, with successful spells at Barcelona and Inter Milan. His trophies there included three La Liga crowns and two Champions League titles. He also won the treble, under coach Jose Mourinho, at Inter Milan in 2010, and has an Olympic gold medal, which he won with Cameroon in 2000.

I had hoped Samuel’s second spell in Italian football would have been more successful, but he registered just two goals with Doria.